Sept. 1 is an auspicious day in Mormonism — the day in 1842 when founder Joseph Smith wrote an epistle about doing proxy baptisms for deceased relatives, one of the rituals now conducted in Latter-day Saint temples.

On Tuesday, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated another milestone: the availability of free tickets to tour the iconic Salt Lake Temple when it opens to the public in 2027 after seven years of renovation, reconstruction and seismic upgrades.

The formal celebration of the faith’s flagship temple, which will begin in April and run for six months, will follow the theme “Rejoice in Christ,” senior apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf told reporters, dignitaries and guests at the West Entrance Building on Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.

“You will find [that theme] in many places,” Uchtdorf said, “in the city, in our publications and around the globe.”

The church is planning “a worldwide celebration because it’s a global church,” he said, “with a universal message of Jesus Christ in which we rejoice.”

Indeed, there likely will be much “rejoicing” throughout the year, the affable German apostle told the gathering, especially among those eager to get their hands on one of those tickets, which can be reserved online at lds.org.

[Salt Lake Temple tour tickets are available now. Here’s how to get yours.]

He invited everyone to “to come and see and love Jesus Christ.”

Those who come “will see there will be unity,” Uchtdorf said. “We will not be judgmental against anyone or anything, especially the rising generation.”

The leader of the faith’s children, Primary General President Rosemary Chibota, encouraged young people and children to see the temple next year.

“In my culture, and in many cultures throughout the world,” Chibota, who is from Zimbabwe, said Tuesday, “whenever there is a celebration, children and youth lead the way. So we appeal to the children and youth to take a lead in celebrating this temple … to ask questions, to learn about the temple, to invite others to do the same, and to share what they feel.”

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Latter-day Saint, said he was overcome with emotions.

“I’m just sitting here in this incredible edifice, awed by the artistry, the beauty of this building, a building that could challenge any building anywhere in this country or Europe, anywhere in the world,” Cox said. “And here we are in the middle of downtown Salt Lake City.”

While it is a religious building, Cox said, “it is also a building of interest, an historic building — in the history of westward migration, in the history of faith communities in the United States.”

The governor said he is amazed that millions of tourists come every year “and never get a chance to enter that building. Yet they come anyway to see it. It is one of the top tourist attractions in the state of Utah, one of the top tourist attractions anywhere in the United States.”

Finally, they will all “get to go inside,” Cox said. “We expect millions of people to come here, and we hope that they will have an opportunity to learn about this place, to learn about the history of our state, to learn about the rugged people who came here and transformed this barren wasteland.”

The six-spired, pioneer-era building last opened to outsiders just before its original dedication in 1893.

During next year’s festivities, the Relief Society Building on Temple Square will welcome visitors to experience the faith of “everyday women” with interactive exhibits and films, said Camille Johnson, the Relief Society’s general president, “to learn more about the work that [Latter-day Saint] women are doing all over the world.”

Johnson, who leads the all-female Relief Society, pointed out all the sculptures on Temple Square that depict women interacting with Christ. They are, she said in an interview, “a really lovely addition.”

Artist Kathy Jordan helped re-create two stained-glass triptychs, “Behold Your Little Ones” and “He is Risen,” for the new temple entrance building.

Though not a “worshipping Latter-day Saint,” Jordan told The Salt Lake Tribune, “I believe in Jesus Christ and believe God is moving in my life.”

She was thrilled to work on “a figural scene or a narrative,” she said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for myself.”

The church’s architectural masterpiece will be open to the public from April 5 through Oct. 1, including Sundays, next year. After that, the temple will be rededicated and closed to all but members in good standing.